A mass Happy Birthday singalong was given to a 100-year-old Romsey woman by her friends and family at the weekend.

Muriel Clarke has lived in Romsey for 47 years and on Sunday, July 5, she celebrated her milestone birthday at Abbotswood Court Care Home, Minchin Road.

Due to government restrictions, she couldn't celebrate in the normal fashion, so "30 of her friends and family" stood outside the care home to wish her happy birthday, along with the Halfpenny family brass group who played a few songs for the centenarian.

Muriel's youngest daughter, Daphne Lindsell, said: "She was thrilled with the surprise and said she wanted to thank all of her friends and family who had made her day so special.

"Her friends from the Romsey Baptist Church organised the sing along and the care home took the video as well as some lovely photos of the occasion; it was very memorable.

"I know she was really looking forward to her 100th birthday and her card from the queen, which I organised to have delivered to her."

The 69-year-old added: "Muriel has lived in Romsey for 47 years. She moved to Romsey with my dad, Norman, for his work because he was involved in a shipping firm.

"She lived in Brook Way until two years ago when she felt she needed a bit more support, because I live in Cornwall and I couldn't drag her away from Romsey as she was so keen to stay there.

"She is well-known amongst people in Romsey and the church."

Home admissions advisor for Abbotswood Court Care Home, Annya Sait, said: "There must have been about 30 of her friends and family outside of the care home.

"I think she was quite overwhelmed, but really happy to see everybody because there was a good 12 week period where she didn't see any of her friends.

"She had the biggest cake I have ever seen and her room now is like a garden centre with eight big vases of flowers."

She added the care home could not allow the well-wishers into the care home due to lockdown, but said they could celebrate Muriel's birthday "at the front of the building".